Dew point: where water appears The dew point is the temperature at which air, cooled at constant pressure and humidity, becomes saturated and water begins to condense. If a recovery core surface drops below the exhaust dew point, condensate forms on it – normal in cooling duty, a design input for drainage. Frost point: where […]
Frost Protection in Heat Recovery Systems
In cold climates, exhaust air can be warm and humid while intake is far below freezing. When that exhaust cools below its dew point inside the core, frost forms. Left unchecked, ice blocks the airflow entirely. Why Frost Happens Frost appears when exhaust outlet temperature drops near 0 C and the core surface is below […]
Frost and Defrost Strategies for Rotary Energy Wheels in Cold Climates
A rotary energy wheel is exceptionally effective at recovery, but in cold climates that same effectiveness becomes its weak point: the wheel constantly rotates the cold supply side through the warm, moisture-laden exhaust, and below freezing the exhaust condensate freezes onto the matrix and can block the duct. Understanding why wheels frost and how to […]
Frost Protection for Plate Heat Exchangers
In cold-climate ventilation, an exhaust-to-supply air-to-air plate exchanger can frost on the exhaust side when the supply outlet drops below the dew point of the humid exhaust. Frost narrows the channels, raises pressure drop and eventually blocks the core. Knowing when it forms — and which protection strategy to use — keeps the unit efficient […]